Bread of Life Church asks board to restore tax-exempt status; review postponed to July 24

Olivia Reed, representing Bread of Life Church, told the Cleveland County Equalization Board on June 19 that the ministry has operated under a tax exemption since 1989 and that the county is now questioning the organization's tax-exempt status for four properties. Reed said her husband, the church's founder, died in 2019 and that the congregation continues to hold services; she said the properties remain important to the ministry and that she will provide documents to show the parcels are used for religious purposes.

"They have been under a tax exemption, but now are facing challenges because the county is questioning their tax exempt status as a church," Reed said, and added she was confused about why she was not properly notified about collection steps after a tax resale. Chairman Chuck Thompson pressed the Board and Reed for specifics on assessor mailings, what was received and returned, and whether all portions of the parcels are in exclusive religious use, saying, "There seems to be a communication breakdown, and I want to understand how and why that happened."

The Board listed four protested accounts tied to the Bread of Life ministry (Account Nos. 68517, 2025, 68431 and 187703) with addresses in Norman, Oklahoma, and agreed that staff should review documentation of exempt use before making a determination. Josh Edge moved, seconded by John Wullich, to postpone consideration of Items a through d until July 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., for further review; the motion carried (Chuck Thompson, yes; Josh Edge, yes; John Wullich, yes).

The postponement preserves the Board's ability to examine assessor notices, signature-required mailings Reed referenced, and whatever documentary evidence the church supplies. The Board did not make a final determination on exemption status at the June 19 meeting; the matter will return to the Board on the July 24 agenda for further action.